The inhabitants of Port Townsend in Washington have a theatrical treat in store over the next couple of weeks: The Disaster in Verse is a musical about the great man written, produced and directed by evidently multi-talented high school senior Ian Coates. You read more about the play and its author in this story from the PT Leader.
McGonagall himself felt that his work was too deep for music. Let’s hope Mr Coates is able to prove him wrong!
I’m sure music is exactly what McGonagall’s poetry deserves! I have to say this website was a valuable resource for learning about the man and his life.
Glad to be of help, Ian, I hope the performances are going well. If there’s anything from your show that you’d like to share with the wider world of McGonagall fans, please get in touch.
How sad that McGonagall lived too late to have his poetry set to music by Beethoven, for example. One of his moral tales would have made a great text for the Choral Symphony. The first line of ‘The Faithful Dog Fido’ would fit the music perfectly: ‘Little Fido’s master had to go on a long journey …’. Worthy music, but even nobler sentiments!
You can now read a review of this play on the PT Leader website. It sounds like an absolute hoot. I do hope some of it finds its way onto YouTube for the rest of the world to enjoy.
The piece is described as “a tight script and production about a poet making the world a little less dark with his cringeworthy poetry.” I think he’s still doing that over a century after his death.